Over the past two decades there has been an increasing focus on work life balance or what some organizations call work life harmony. Many individuals are feeling overwhelmed with the challenges faced by increasing pressures at work and demands of home life. Particularly those who have aging parents and dependent children at home. Finding time to take care of oneself can be challenging. Yet the connection to mental well being and physical sickness is becoming more and more clear. With all of these mounting pressures what can a busy professional, leader or entrepreneur do that doesn’t take time, helps boost resilience, improve mindset and improve relationships at home and at work. One simple task that is cost efficient, doesn’t require a lot of time and can be done anywhere is practicing gratitude daily.
Personal benefits of gratitude:
Improved health: Gratitude has been linked to enhanced immunity, heart health and reduced physical symptoms such as aches and pains.
- Increased Mental health: Practicing gratitude reduces toxic emotions, increases happiness and lowers depression.
- Stronger Relationships: Grateful individuals are more likely to be more social and build stronger connections to other and recognize how others contribute to their lives.
- Increased Happiness: There’s a strong correlation with greater happiness and stronger emotions.
- Empathy and emotional maturity: Studies show that gratitude is linked to improved empathy and is considered to have been associates with emotional maturity.
How can it improve the workplace?
- Increases team collaboration: Teams that express gratitude regularly want to be more supportive of each other and foster a culture of creativity.
- Improved well-being and reduction of stress: When individuals know they’re appreciated for their work, stress levels decrease and employees are more resilient.
- Promotes positive culture: Gratitude promotes a more positive workplace culture that is supportive and employees know their hard work is appreciated.
- Enhances Performance & Engagement: Expressing gratitude for a job well done is connected to employees feeling higher job satisfaction, increased individual performance and employees are more engaged.
Gratitude Practices
- Create a gratitude practice: Start a gratitude journal, expressing thanks daily or reflecting on positive experiences.
- Making Gratitude intentional: Create structure around gratitude by writing thank you cards, making lists your thankful for or taking pictures of things that matter.
- Incorporate others: Invite others to participate in a gratitude ritual. Practice gratitude around the dinner table or start a meeting with some recognition.
Gratitude isn’t a new concept, it’s been around for a long time. It is easy to forget the impact taking time to do some self-reflection or thanking someone else for their efforts can dramatically change someone’s day. The benefits are supported by scientific research, have long term benefits on well-being, relationships and outlook on life.
Article citations
Sansone RA, Sansone LA. Gratitude and well being: the benefits of appreciation. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2010 Nov;7(11):18-22. PMID: 21191529; PMCID: PMC3010965.
Zhan, Yuanfang, et al. “Feeling Gratitude and Depletion: The Ambivalent Consequences of Receiving Help in the Workplace.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 18, no. 4, Feb. 2021. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.twu.idm.oclc.org/10.3390/ijerph18042039.
Fatima Ashraf, and Muhammad Asif Khan. “Workplace Bullying and Organizational Deviance : Does Gratitude Matter?” JISR Management and Social Sciences & Economics, vol. 20, no. 1, June 2022. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.31384/jisrmsse/2022.20.1.7.
